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. 2020 Jul 1;202(1):112-123.
doi: 10.1164/rccm.201902-0286OC.

Prenatal, Early-Life, and Childhood Exposure to Air Pollution and Lung Function: The ALSPAC Cohort

Yutong Cai  1   2   3 , Anna L Hansell  1   4 , Raquel Granell  5 , Marta Blangiardo  1 , Mariagrazia Zottoli  3 , Daniela Fecht  1 , John Gulliver  1   4 , A John Henderson  5 , Paul Elliott  1   6   7   8   9
Affiliations

Prenatal, Early-Life, and Childhood Exposure to Air Pollution and Lung Function: The ALSPAC Cohort

Yutong Cai et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. .

Abstract

Rationale: Exposure to air pollution during intrauterine development and through childhood may have lasting effects on respiratory health.Objectives: To investigate lung function at ages 8 and 15 years in relation to air pollution exposures during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood in a UK population-based birth cohort.Methods: Individual exposures to source-specific particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) during each trimester, 0-6 months, 7-12 months (1990-1993), and up to age 15 years (1991-2008) were examined in relation to FEV1% predicted and FVC% predicted at ages 8 (n = 5,276) and 15 (n = 3,446) years using linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders. A profile regression model was used to identify sensitive time periods.Measurements and Main Results: We did not find clear evidence of a sensitive exposure period for PM10 from road traffic. At age 8 years, 1 μg/m3 higher exposure during the first trimester was associated with lower FEV1% predicted (-0.826; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.357 to -0.296) and FVC% predicted (-0.817; 95% CI, -1.357 to -0.276), but similar associations were seen for exposures for other trimesters, 0-6 months, 7-12 months, and 0-7 years. Associations were stronger among boys, as well as children whose mother had a lower education level or smoked during pregnancy. For PM10 from all sources, the third trimester was associated with lower FVC% predicted (-1.312; 95% CI, -2.100 to -0.525). At age 15 years, no adverse associations with lung function were seen.Conclusions: Exposure to road-traffic PM10 during pregnancy may result in small but significant reductions in lung function at age 8 years.

Keywords: ALSPAC; air pollution; children; respiratory health; traffic.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
(A–C) Mean changes in lung function (FEV1% predicted, FVC% predicted, and FEV1%/FVC% predicted ratio) at ages 8 and 15 years in relation to 1 μg/m3 higher particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) from local major road traffic (PM10_road) in different time periods. Fully adjusted model (adjusted for sex, gestational age, maternal education, home ownership, maternal smoking during pregnancy, passive smoking in childhood, presence of damp and mold at home, and season of clinic visit). CI = confidence interval; T1 = first trimester; T2 = second trimester; T3 = third trimester; WP = whole pregnancy.
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
(A–C) Mean changes in lung function (FEV1% predicted, FVC% predicted, and FEV1%/FVC% predicted ratio) at ages 8 and 15 years in relation to 1 μg/m3 higher particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) from local major road traffic (PM10_road) in different time periods. Fully adjusted model (adjusted for sex, gestational age, maternal education, home ownership, maternal smoking during pregnancy, passive smoking in childhood, presence of damp and mold at home, and season of clinic visit). CI = confidence interval; T1 = first trimester; T2 = second trimester; T3 = third trimester; WP = whole pregnancy.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(A–C) Mean changes in lung function (FEV1% predicted, FVC% predicted, and ratio of FEV1%/FVC% predicted) at ages 8 and 15 years in relation to 10 μg/m3 higher total particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10_total) in different time periods. Fully adjusted model (adjusted for sex, gestational age, maternal education, home ownership, maternal smoking during pregnancy, passive smoking in childhood, presence of damp and mold at home, and season of clinic visit). For definition of abbreviations, see Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(A–C) Mean changes in lung function (FEV1% predicted, FVC% predicted, and ratio of FEV1%/FVC% predicted) at ages 8 and 15 years in relation to 10 μg/m3 higher total particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10_total) in different time periods. Fully adjusted model (adjusted for sex, gestational age, maternal education, home ownership, maternal smoking during pregnancy, passive smoking in childhood, presence of damp and mold at home, and season of clinic visit). For definition of abbreviations, see Figure 1.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Mean changes in FVC% predicted at age 8 years in relation to per 1 μg/m3 higher particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) from local major road traffic (PM10_road) in different time periods by maternal education, smoking, and sex. Fully adjusted model (*adjusted for sex, gestational age, maternal education, home ownership, maternal smoking during pregnancy, passive smoking in childhood, presence of damp and mold at home, and season of clinic visit). CI = confidence interval; T1 = first trimester; T2 = second trimester; T3 = third trimester; WP = whole pregnancy.
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